The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired ace pitcher Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers ahead of Monday's Major League Baseball trade deadline, a move that has sent shockwaves through the league. The Chicago Cubs, whose rotation has been hit hard by injuries this season, were also considered strong contenders for the back-to-back Cy Young winner, and their pursuit of the 29-year-old is reported to have inadvertently helped the Dodgers secure the deal.

Detroit Tigers fans are understandably the most aggrieved by losing their star pitcher, but Cubs supporters are described as a close second given how close their team reportedly came to landing him. The full details of how Chicago's involvement in the bidding benefited Los Angeles were not available in the source material.